Brumbies captain and cancer survivor Christian Lealiifano has wound back the clock with his best Super Rugby performance since entering remission.
The 31-year-old playmaker starred in the Brumbies’ stunning 54-17 demolition of the Chiefs on Saturday night where they produced their highest-scoring first half since 2004.
In a game where the Brumbies had winners across the ground, Lealiifano was comfortably their standout player.
The display should make Wallabies coach Michael Cheika sit up and take notice despite Lealiifano having been off the national team radar for three years.
Before he was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2016, the flyhalf was in the Wallabies squad for Tests against England.
He said earlier this year a World Cup berth was in the back of his mind and he was not ready to close the door on his international career.
After battling cancer, Lealiifano sat out the 2017 regular season but courageously returned for the Brumbies’ quarter-final clash.
He was rested from two games last year in his full season back from illness, but still proved to be an asset for the Brumbies.
Following the end of the 2018 Super Rugby season, Lealiifano then headed to play in the Japanese Top League with the Toyota Industries Shuttles.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said Lealiifano had worked hard to return to an elite level.
“I don’t want to embarrass him, but he’s in good shape,” McKellar said.
“He came back from Japan fit and sharp and his running game was outstanding tonight and that’s always been his strength.”
A modest Lealiifano played down his impact on the game.
“You’re a lot quicker when you’re on the front foot so the platform the forwards set was nice,” Lealiifano said.
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